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1890. NEW ZEALAND.

FLAX AND OTHER INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE) ON THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE AND APPENDIX.

Brought up 9th September, 1890, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 23i.d Day of July, 1890. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, to consist of ten members, to consider all matters pertaining to the development of the flax and dairy produce and wine-producing industries ; with power to call for persons and papers. The Committee to consist of Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. Valentine, Mr. Dodson. Mr. Marchant, Hon. Captain Russell, Mr. Walker, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hamlin, Major Steward, and the mover; three to be a quorum."—(Mr. Beetham.)

Thubsday, the 31st Day of July, 1890. Ordered, " That it be an instruction to the Select Committee, appointed on the 23rd instant, to inquire into all matters pertaining to the development of flax and dairy produce and wine-producing industries, to add the fruit industry."—(Mr. Hobes.)

EEPOET ON THE DAIEY INDUSTEY. The Committee, to whom was referred the question of flax, dairy produce, and other industries, have the honour to report, with respect to dairy produce, as follows : — 1. Your Committee have much pleasure in drawing attention to the large increase in the export of dairy produce that has taken place during the last ten years, as shown in the following return :— Butter. Value. Cheese. Value. Cwt. £ cwt. £ 1880 .. ... ... 2,717 8,350 717 1,983 1881 ... ... ... 2,426 8,496 3,056 6,112 1882 11,264 52,088 3,553 10,130 1883 ... .... ... 8,869 42,020 2,519 6,892 1884 ... ' ... ... 15,766 66,593 10,342 25,074 1885 ... ... ... 24,923 102,387 15,245 35,742 1886 23,175 105,537 16,429 45,657 1887 ... ... ... 17,018 54,921 23,913 54,562 1888 ... ... ... 29,995 118,252 36,682 78,918 1889 ... ... ... 37,955 146,840 26,558 67,105 1890 (half-year, to June 30) 24,021 83,799 26,663 57,642 These figures show that the dairy industry is undergoing rapid development, and the expert evidence laid before your Committee proves that much of the butter and cheese now made in New Zealand is quite equal in quality to that produced in any part of the world. 2. Your Committee, however, find that the export butter-trade is in an unsatisfactory state, the causes being (a) that butter is frequently made in a faulty manner, and will not therefore keep long even under favourable conditions ; (b) that butter, in every way good when originally made, is spoiled in transit through defective carrying and transhipment arrangements, or the use of unsuitable packages. 3. Your Committee find that want of knowledge of the best methods of manufacture is the principal reason for butter being badly made, and they have therefore the honour to recommend that Government should at once engage at least two experts, thoroughly qualified to impart scientific and practical instruction. They are of opinion that it would be desirable to obtain such experts from Denmark, where the industry is thoroughly understood, a knowledge of the English language on the part of such experts being, however, a necessary qualification for their appointment. 4. The formation of dairymen's associations for mutual instruction and assistance would, in the opinion of your Committee, be of very great service to the dairying industry. Such associations could confer with Government and with professional experts, and should hold periodical conferences for the advancement of the industry in the manner pursued in the United States and Canada, their funds being supplemented by grants-in-aid from the consolidated revenue, as in most

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